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Here's some Sierra Boggess clips (she has played both Fantine & Christine) for your viewing/listening pleasure:

From the very old musical "Show Boat", which goes way back to the 1920s - Jerome Kern composed the beautiful music for Hammerstein's lyrics, this being before he teamed up with Rogers):

From "The Sound of Music" (I think this song didn't appear in the Broadway production, but was written for the movie):

And from "Carousel" (the song I always thought was their most gorgeous...until I heard "Some Enchanted Evening"):

I have never heard Sierra B sing, she does have a lovely voice.However, I had to stop listening to "Something good" after about 6 seconds, because Julie Andrews OWNS this song.I just can't even listen to anyone else sing it....

(dang, I didn't realize how picky I am about this stuff! Yikes and yowsa!)

I have never heard Sierra B sing, she does have a lovely voice.However, I had to stop listening to "Something good" after about 6 seconds, because Julie Andrews OWNS this song.I just can't even listen to anyone else sing it....

"Something Good" is such a soft, sweet and serene song and it's so easy and heartwarming to listen to - you're right that Julie does own this song - always has, always will - and yet...and yet...Sierra does have a lovely voice and she handles it romantically and delightfully, and I think Julie herself would smile and applaud...

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Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Ron - I've been meaning to tell you for awhile that back when I suggested you attend "Les Mis" in Michigan after looking at the tour schedule I was straining to recall my grade school geography and had this vague picture of it being closer to you than Colorado - right after you told us you got tiks to a Colorado performance I checked a map and discovered to my surprise and dismay that my recollection of the physical relationship of the states to one another had become grossly distorted over the years Funny how that happens...at least to some of us...

Also, I wanted to tell you that I've been watching the 25th Anniversary Concert on YT lately and have gradually come to the conclusion that Samantha Barks is better than I originally thought - much more so in this than in the movie - there's magic in the live performance!).

Edited by TrapperJohn (01/18/1304:52 PM)

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Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

...Ron, I do so hope you love the live performance of Les Mis because NOW your expectations are very, very high!....

I am thoroughly enjoying the book. I remember reading that when they came out with this play. They were scorned, hated, slandered by all the critics and tabloids. The same happened with the original play in France. They said there was no way a musical could do Les Mis justice. But the audiences disagreed, 100 percent. I live, listening to people's hearts. All they have to do in the play is put all their heart in it. This is what attracted me to the music from the play in the first place. My first video was Lea singing I Dreamed a Dream. This is also why I wasn't as harsh as some on the movie.

Originally Posted By: piano joy

...Maybe you should listen to some REALLY BAD singing before you go....

Got that covered. I got a recording of Trapper singing: Master of the House. Then, he goes from bad to worse singing her part of the duet.

Originally Posted By: TrapperJohn

Ron - I've been meaning to tell you for awhile ... in Michigan ...you got tiks to a Colorado performance I checked ...

Most people have to think about anything in SD being close to Denver. Their first impression is usually; "surely you jest". As you saw. I'm in the far south west corner of the state. That's close to Denver. If I were in (wannabe NY) Sioux Falls (little tiny wannabe NY). Then Michigan might work. It's about a 6 hour drive to Minneapolis, St. Paul. Da Hills are a very special place. Very unlike anything else in South Dakota.

Originally Posted By: TrapperJohn

...have gradually come to the conclusion that Samantha Barks is better than I originally thought ...

I have found I really like many who have done parts in Les Mis. All they have to do is put all their heart into it. Samantha does this. She is one of the few from the play in the movie. Saw an interview of her's on the movie. She did a very good job of being diplomatic, courteous, and kind toward all the movie was. I understand about live. I think it has to do with a person repeatedly perfecting a personal masterpiece. Also I just gotta say it... I think Samantha is adorable.

...Maybe you should listen to some REALLY BAD singing before you go....

Got that covered. I got a recording of Trapper singing: Master of the House. Then, he goes from bad to worse singing her part of the duet.

Well, "Master of the House" indeed - I can be pretty sleazy and "tell a saucy tale" and "peek into the "occupied bridal suite" too like him - but listening to that should set you up nicely to appreciate the "slightly better" or "more polished" performances you'll see in the show - hey, but I'm at least as good a singer as Russel Crowe, which should give you a big clue about just how really bad I am...

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Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Last night on the local PBS station in our area they broadcast the special 25th Anniversary Performance of "Phantom of the Opera" from the Royal Albert Hall in London from 9pm to near midnight - I stayed up to watch it, although it was way past my usual bedtime of 10 pm or so - it was well worth it!

Excellent production and outstanding performances - Sierra played Christine and Ramin Karimloo played the Phantom - both were superb - here's a clip:

And you must see this - after the show some former "Phantoms" serenade the audience (and Andrew Lloyd Webber) - one of the Phantoms is Colm!!! Sara Brightman and Michael Crawford were also there, although strangely Michael didn't sing?!?

And here's Sierra talking about the show:

Edited by TrapperJohn (01/19/1309:43 AM)

_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Darn it! NBC Universal went and blocked my 25th anniversary encore finale of Les Mis on YT! I liked that! Looks like I'm gonna have to buy it early. Not even sure I can find the right one. Some I see on amazon have german writing and such. Gonna have to be careful. Gee.... I've been planning on buying the 10th and 25th. Wanted to wait to get a Mac first. I already got: The Complete Symphonic Recording on hard copy. You don't suppose NBC Universal would change their mind until I get my new Mac, do you?

Gee Trapper... Is interesting watching Sierra interviewed. She is actually a very real gal. Doesn't at all seem full of herself. Even though a person would prejudge that with her looks. I'm liking her more and more. Glad you got to see the 25th Anniversary Phantom. Should have been great. That play is another one I want to see.Oh yes Trapper.... You definitely have a much better high falsetto cow moo than Russel. Definitely adds humor to her part of the song.

I don't know...doesn't sound right to me if M.Crawford is not singing THE part....just not right, I don't care how good the other voices sound!

The only thing R.Crowe had going for him was his looks- are his looks, I mean.I do think he's a great actor (what was that movie about the schizophrenic mathematician...??) but should reserve singing for the shower- like the rest of us!

I don't know...doesn't sound right to me if M.Crawford is not singing THE part....just not right, I don't care how good the other voices sound...

I am in the camp that thinks the Phantom needs to have a stronger bottom end. M. Crawford and the rest just aren't as good as I think the Phantom could be. I'll need to demonstrate one day.

BTW: I went ahead and bought the 25th Les Mis concert. I got the electronic version on amazon. I didn't need to wait for my new Mac. They keep it there. I just log on and play it. Didn't cost alot either. Noticed they brought in the original cast at the end. Did a couple songs. That was nice. Colm and everybody. Also...have to admit...even on my computer it is a whole lot better quality than YT.

Also the schitzophrenic mathmatician and Russel. That movie was "A Beautiful Mind". About John Forbes Nash Jr. A Nobel Prize winner. When my father saw this. He said that reminded him of me. I'm always viewing things from a different point of view than everyone else. Yes that's true. But I have used my mind to find greater answers. I know where Mr. Nash's sickness came from and it won't happen to me. I also know the flaw in his Nobel prize winning theory. This thinking is where I get ideas for original songs.

Gee Trapper... Glad you got to see the 25th Anniversary Phantom. Should have been great. That play is another one I want to see...

Me too - it was - you should must!

I think you could relate to or identify with the Phantom rather closely and smartly - talk about a love greater than death - with him I'm not sure if it's love or a psychotic obsession (although there is sometimes a very fine line of distinction between the two )...

Speaking of that, one of the non-musical scenes in the movie version of "Phantom" that I liked best, and which I thought was a stroke of artistic genius, was near the end when it was about 50 years after the events depicted in most of the movie and the old Count was being pushed by a nurse in a wheelchair in the quiet cemetery where his late wife Christine was buried - he pauses in deep thought for awhile and then places the "musical monkey" that had once belonged to the Phantom on her tombstone, and then as he is about to turn away and leave he notices out of the corner of his eye a single red rose lying on a corner of the stone...the implication being that it had just been recently placed there by the Phantom, who was still alive yet (he was assumed to be dead all these years) and still passionately in love with Christine...leaving a single red rose for her after each performance had been the practice of the Phantom whenever Christine had sung at the opera so many years before...what a warm and tender and inspired scene... Here it is:

Edited by TrapperJohn (01/20/1307:23 PM)

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Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

...places the "musical monkey" that had once belonged to the Phantom on her tombstone, and then as he is about to turn away and leave he notices out of the corner of his eye a single red rose lying on a corner of the stone...the implication being that it had just been recently placed there by the Phantom, ...

I think I mentioned it to you before. Notice what the Count brought to the tombstone? A very dear, personal possession of the Phantom's. All the count was able to give Christine was shallow. The Phantom gave her deep down riches. He taught her how to sing. The Phantom also showed them both deep down love that the Count was just now beginning to comprehend. That love it took to let the Count go and tell them to "get out".

I'm learning one thing by reading the Les Mis book. If you want to tell society off. Write a book. Hugo didn't leave anyone out. Told them all off. All of them who's hearts are in the shallow meaningless things of this world.

All the count was able to give Christine was shallow. The Phantom gave her deep down riches. He taught her how to sing.

So the story goes...and she thought he was the "angel of music" her deceased father had promised to send to her from heaven - but she was young and naive and innocent and the Phantom relentlessly stalked her and spied on her and tried to control her body and mind and spirit, i.e., possess her in full, gruesome totality - this is, in the final analysis, nothing more than, nor other than, obsessive psychosis - not to mention pathetically criminal - he deserved a fate far worse than he got, like maybe hanging from the famous chandelier - wow, what a spectacular ending that would have been (worthy of it's own special song)!

Edited by TrapperJohn (01/21/1306:39 PM)

_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Heavy sigh....so, so lovely...Who even writes lyrics like that anymore?Sunrise, Sunset is so well suited for the piano ,too.

Ok, I'll bite ( )This violin solo below is sheer beauty. I've heard it say the piano sings and the violin cries. This makes me *almost* wish I played violin instead of the piano (well, it WOULD be much easier to lug around!)

Ron - even a good parody of a really bad performance would be painful to watch - this is not necessarily a good parody...so, somehow there's a double sin here...

What is it exactly that possesses some stars in their warped, twisted, exaggerated image of themselves as entertainers that they insist on singing a song that they must know has been done so much better by others, and that in so doing they are simply making themselves out as fools by looking so incredibly bad by comparison? Why on earth would they do this?

_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

With great humility. I must ask you, Trapper. Are you expecting a stage performance on film? If so, we have two great stage performances on film already.

I am interested if they required any of these actors to read the book before acting.

I myself, view Les Mis as a blues story. You cannot have the blues without hope. Hope in the face of destruction. I think they failed in the movie to keep this. In the songs in the play, it is obviously beautiful. The worst example I see of this is how they had Samantha change; On My Own.

I can see all through the movie how they dropped the ball with hope, faith, love. They died in destruction.

This also shows in awards. The director has no nominations.

What makes this story great is faith, hope, and especially love, in the face of death and destruction. A love that is greater than death itself. They failed in the movie, to appropriately express this basic concept that the book beautifully illustrates. A concept that the play is drenched in.

I just saw them doing "One Day More" at the Oscars. Sad...really sad. This is pushing Samantha Barks graciousness to extremes. She had to hold back. Otherwise walk all over the rest of their singing. And they actually gave a standing ovation? Sad...really sad.

EDIT: I just have to add. Samantha had to hold back so much. She couldn't even take one good deep breath of air. That's how badly she had to hold back. Sad....really sad. When you see her in the 25th. Her and everyone else is breathing like they're running a marathon. Ohhhh....I'm looking forward to this play.

BTW: Two ladies won Oscars for the makeup and I think costumes in this. Has anyone asked them if they were the ones giving Ann that haircut in the film? Just think of it...An Oscar for a bad haircut.